There are many places that we expect to find things of beauty: on the seashore, at an art museum, in the night sky.  However, as I was watching a football game yesterday I was struck by the beauty of a well-executed pass.

Let me start by explaining that I am not a football fanatic.  I enjoy watching my children play and my husband coach football.  I also enjoy watching the Patriots in their weekly game and playfully harassing my husband as he roots for the Ravens.  Outside of that, I don’t need to spend any additional time watching football.  But as I sat watching both the Ravens and Patriots games yesterday, I saw a pass thrown for many yards down the field. The gentle arch of the ball, spiraling down the field, and landing perfectly in the receiver’s hands truly had a look of beauty to it.

Was it a technically sound pass? I honestly don’t know, but what I do know is that it looked effortless, a made for tv sort of pass that made me pause and consider its eye appeal.

Driving to the office this morning, I thought about that pass and how my brain found it to be beautiful.  I think we sometimes look too hard, searching for beauty instead of simply recognizing it in its various forms.  For example, well done wording can be beautiful.  As I read Jason Lightner’s wine review last week, his wording, “the dark ruby wine dashes around the wine glass” oozed with beauty.

The architecture of a lamp post. A classic piece of music played on violin. The first cup of coffee poured on a chilly morning. There is beauty in all of these things.  In fact, it is located in many places, if you look.

Here’s to seeing, rather than seeking, beauty.